Office of profit: BJP to move Nainital HC

Stepping up its offensive against the ruling Congress in Uttaranchal, the BJP has decided to move the Nainital High Court seeking disqualification of 18 ruling party MLAs alleging that they are all holding offices of profit.

The move came two days after BJP petitioned Governor Sudershan Agarwal on the issue.

"We are moving the High Court to seek justice as our plea before the Governor was not heeded," BJP leader Prakash Pant said.

He said a petition in this regard was also pending before the Election Commission.

"We are giving reference of a Supreme Court decision of 2001 in the Shibu Soren vs Dayanand Sahay case," Pant said. The Supreme Court has defined the office of profit in this case, he said.

Meanwhile, in a move to counter BJP's offensive, the state government has introduced a Prevention of Disqualification bill to protect the membership of the Congress MLAs allegedly holding offices of profit.

State Parliamentary Affairs minister Indira Hridayesh had on Friday introduced the bill in the Vidhan Sabha amid walkout by the entire Opposition.

The introduction of the Bill came after BJP and other opposition parties, including BSP and UKS, petitioned Governor Sudarshan Agarwal calling for the disqualification of the 18 Congress legislators.